COSTA DO SAUIPE/STARNBERG, March 28, 2025
Costa do Sauípe, a historic venue for iconic moments in world tennis, will once again host a high-level tournament with the Costa do Sauípe Open, an ATP Challenger Tour 125 event set to take place from October 19 to 26, 2025 on completely renovated clay courts. With a prize pool of $200,000 and 125 ATP ranking points awarded to the champion, the tournament becomes the second-largest tennis event in Brazil.
This marks a new chapter in Brazilian tennis history, thanks to a successful partnership between Try and Costa do Sauípe that has lasted over 20 years. With the destination fully renewed and a tournament of unprecedented scale in the country, top-level tennis is making a triumphant return to Brazil’s largest resort.
A Legendary Tennis Venue
From 2001 to 2011, Costa do Sauípe was a key venue for elite tennis, hosting the Brasil Open, which attracted some of the sport’s biggest names. Gustavo Kuerten won the trophy in 2002 and 2004, the latter being his last career title. Rafael Nadal shined in 2005, still an emerging young talent at the time.
The tournament also welcomed stars like Carlos Moya, Richard Gasquet, Guillermo Coria, Gaston Gaudio, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Fernando Meligeni, and Thomaz Bellucci, who played his first ATP final in Costa do Sauípe in 2009.
Early on, the complex promoted community engagement, with players participating in tree-planting initiatives and visits to local communities. International athletes praised Costa do Sauípe for its convenience, as they could easily walk from their accommodations to the courts, as well as its hospitality and fan interaction. This made Costa do Sauípe one of the most beloved tennis destinations in the world.
Now, more than a decade later, Costa do Sauípe is returning to the global tennis stage with a major international tournament, placing Northeast Brazil back on the world sports map. The new ATP Challenger 125 is one of only two in South America, with ambitions to grow into an ATP 250 event and eventually introduce a women’s tournament, solidifying its long-term legacy.
A Renewed Costa do Sauípe
Since acquiring the resort in 2018, Aviva—renowned for its successful 60-year operation in Goiás with Rio Quente Resorts and Hot Park—has been working toward a full-scale renewal of Costa do Sauípe, set for completion by 2028.
The resort has already seen a total transformation of its beachfront, entertainment hub (Vila Nova da Praia and Quermesse da Vila), and two of its four operating hotels. A fifth hotel is being converted into a shared residential property, InCanto Residence Club. By 2027, a brand-new water park, Hot Park Costa do Sauípe, will open, featuring a new social club with activities and essential services for loyal customers.
A key part of Costa do Sauípe’s repositioning is upgrading its hotel offerings. The resort now boasts two Grand Premium hotels. The Brisa Grand Premium, upgraded in 2022, received the Best of the Best Travellers’ Choice award from TripAdvisor in 2024, ranking among the top 1% of hotels worldwide.
Recognizing a market shift toward high-end accommodations, Aviva also elevated the Sol Grand Premium to a luxury category, investing over 90 million BRL ($18 million). This hotel now offers a strong Bahia identity, stunning ocean views, premium poolside services, world-class hospitality, and gourmet dining options.
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Tennis Returns to Costa do Sauípe
This new era for Costa do Sauípe represents a wave of development for Bahia’s northern coastline, with the return of world-class tennis marking a significant milestone in its transformation.
To host the Costa do Sauípe Open, the resort’s historic courts are undergoing a complete modernization. The tournament will feature six clay courts—one main stadium court and five secondary courts—alongside five hard courts. This state-of-the-art infrastructure will serve both players and spectators and remain available year-round for resort guests and tennis enthusiasts, ensuring a lasting legacy for the sport in Brazil.
